Google.org and the City of Chicago announced a combined $2.6 million in grants to launch a new Family Independence Initiative (FII) site in Chicago with a goal to partner with 1,000 families across the city. FII is a national organization that takes a new approach to fighting poverty by investing directly in low-income families across the nation so they can work individually and collectively to achieve prosperity. The FII model trusts that families have the solutions for themselves and their communities and invests in those initiatives. In FII, families form cohorts from networks within their own communities. Families set goals they want to achieve, such as purchasing a home or continuing their education, and work together to help each other meet those goals. FII provides them with a community building technology platform, UpTogether, to connect with others, share information about their household, and track their progress. Families also gain access to unrestricted capital to accelerate their initiatives. The City’s Department of Family & Support Services will support FII’s Chicago expansion with additional funding.

Photo Caption:
PHOTO 1: FII, City & Google representatives gather after Google grant announcement: (l-r) Jesús Gerena, FII; Samantha Hennessey, Google.org; Patricia Belden, POAH; Rob Biederman, Google; Lisa Morrison Butler, Commissioner – City of Chicago Department of Family and Support Services; Maab Ibrahim, Google.org; Ebony Scott, FII.
PHOTO 2: Google’s Rob Biederman announces Google’s $2 million investment in FII.
PHOTO 3: FII family members and event attendees participate in a simulated FII “family meeting,” where FII participants set their own goals and work together to achieve them.

Photo Credit: Nicee Martin